MDLO Artists

June 2018

Manli Deng, soprano (China)

Yazid Gray, baritone (USA)

Youna Hartgraves, soprano (USA)

Maeve Höglund, soprano (USA)

Kenneth Kellogg, bass (USA)

Yang Wang, tenor (China)

Young Chinese soprano Manli Deng is currently an undergraduate student of voice at Beijing Central Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Liping Zhang. Tamara Novichenko, chairman of the judge Committee and teacher of famous soprano Anna Netrebko, highly praised Ms. Deng’s voice as "born for the opera."

Ms. Deng was a member of Best Of Best program of the top innovation talent of Central Conservatory of Music. Ms. Deng has given solo recitals in Beijing, Chongqing, Hebei, Shenyang among others since entering the Central Conservatory. As a contracted singer of China Poly Line Company, Ms. Deng participated in 11 Voice for a century Poly circuit concert in 2017.

Beginning on the competition circuit, Ms. Deng has won various awards. In 2011, Ms.Deng was awarded the most potential prize in the Second Maxim Mikhailov international of vocal competition. In 2013, Ms. Deng won the second place in the Third Maxim Mikhailov International of Vocal Chamber Music Competition, and praised by Larisa Gergieva, chairman of the judge Committee, Russia famous vocal educator and Director of Russian Mariinsky Theatre Young Singer Academy. Ms. Deng was invited to study in Russian Mariinsky Theatre Young Singer Academy and offered a full scholarship. In 2015, Ms.Deng won the third place in The American Classical Vocal Music Competition. In 2016, Ms. Deng won the third place in The Third German Gut Immling International Vocal Music Competition. In 2017, Ms. Deng joined in Italy Bologna Vocal Master Class, and participated in and won a special award in the second session of the Cossotto International Vocal Competition.

Ms. Deng sang in the original Chinese national opera Deng Enming in the role of Hou Yuqing in 2017.

Baritone Yazid Gray is originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is a graduate of University of Michigan where he received his Master’s in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Stephen Lusmann. While at Michigan, Yazid performed several roles within their main stage opera seasons. These include Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Oliver Jordan in the Michigan premiere of William Bolcom’s newest opera, Dinner at Eight.

In the summer of 2018, Yazid joins the Studio Artist program at Opera Maine where he will sing the role of Charlie in Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers. From there, he joins Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artist Program for the 2018/2019 season. There he will perform the roles of Schaunard (La Boheme), Zaretski/Captain (Eugene Onegin), and Thomas Putman (The Crucible).

Other operatic roles include Silvio (Pagliacci) and Sid (Albert Herring) with Opera in the Ozarks, Undertaker and Frazier (Porgy and Bess) with the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, MI.

He is an alumnus of DePauw University where he studied with Caroline Smith. During his time at DePauw, Yazid sang roles such as Frank (Die Fledermaus), Nardo (La Finta Giardiniera), Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea), John Brooke (Little Women), as well as a wide range of operatic and musical theater scenes. He has worked with well-known composers, which include Mark Adamo, John Corigliano, Roberto Sierra, Adam Guettel, and Gabriela Frank.

Outside of opera, Yazid has performed roles in several musicals such as Jim Conley (Parade) and Hunter Bell ([title of show]),both with DePauw University, Al (The Most Happy Fella) and Ivor (Babes in Arms) with the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Acclaimed for her electrifying and passionate performances, soprano Youna Jang Hartgraves has sung leading operatic roles throughout the United States, including the title role of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Opera Delaware. She was then invited to sing Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème as well as many other recitals and concerts.

At Temple University in Philadelphia, she performed Natalia Petrovna in Hoiby’s A Month in the Country, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mimì in La Bohème, Climene in L'Egisto, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. She received the Boyer Merit scholarship in recognition of her musical excellence and was the soprano soloist in Bruckner's Te Deum at the Kimmel Center, Verizon Hall. At The University of North Texas, she sang Liù in Turandot as well as the role of Susan B. Anthony in Thomson's The Mother of Us All.

Youna has participated in the young artist programs at Opera Saratoga (formerly Lake George Opera) for two seasons and sung the role of Louise in La Vie Parisiènne and covered the title role of Madama Butterfly. She participated in the apprentice and studio programs at Sarasota Opera and sang the title role of Madama Butterfly at the Sarasota Chalk festival. As a resident artist at The Academy of Vocal Arts, she sung the roles of Amelia in Un ballo in maschera and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin.

She won awards from the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation, The Annapolis Opera Competition, and Gerda Lissner International Competition. She also placed semi-finals and finals at Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, New Jersey State Alfredo Silipigni Vocal Competition, Compositione dell’opera in Germany, Elizabeth Connell Dramatic Soprano Competition in 2016 and 2018, and Hariclea Darclee Competition in Romania.

Youna earned a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music in voice and opera performance from Temple University before appearing as a resident artist at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance and pedagogy at The University of North Texas. More information at www.younahartgraves.com

The New York Times praised Maeve Höglund as “a striking soprano,” and one who “stands out among singers.” For her performance of Carmina Burana with Tuscan Symphony Orchestra, Green Valley News proclaimed that "Höglund possesses a crystalline range in both chest and head tones and the unerring ear required in this late-romantic/early modernist piece. She had no trouble staying atop the large orchestra and chorus with powerful and a pleasantly penetrating timbre." Her performance of the Princess in Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse with Gotham Chamber Opera was described as “portrayed with flair by the excellent soprano Maeve Höglund” while the Kurt Weill Newsletter observed “the hyper-fussy Princess (the stunning-voiced soprano Maeve Höglund) toss[ed] restlessly in bed....Höglund reaffirmed her status as the evening’s vocal stand-out after intermission, in the Hindemith.”

Maeve Höglund makes her Opera Philadelphia debut in the 2017-18 season as Lola in the world premiere of David Hertzberg’s opera The Wake World. She also makes her Michigan Opera Theatre debut as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, and is concert soloist in Messiah with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She returns to the role of Susanna later in the season with Opera Maine, and will sing Leïla in The Pearl Fishers with Lyric Opera of Kansas City during their 2018-19 season .

Her engagements in the 2016-17 season included performing Musetta in La bohème with Charleston Opera, Margaret Hughes in Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players with Little Opera Theatre of New York, and Arminda in Mozart's La finta giardiniera with On Site Opera's co-production with Atlanta Opera. In the 2015-16 season, Maeve debuted with PORTOpera as Frasquita in Carmen, and with Long Beach Opera in Ter Veldhuis’ The News. She also sang Giunia in Mozart's Lucio Sillafor her Chicago Opera Theater debut, and was soloist in Carmina Burana with Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

Other past engagements included starring roles in Gotham Chamber Opera’s production, Baden-Baden 1927, featuring works by Weill, Hindemith, Toch, and Milhaud; as well as Atilia in Cavalli’s Eliogabalo. Dafne in Apollo e Dafne with Pocket Opera; Rose in The Clever Mistress and Lucrezia in My Last Duchess, both with Cutting Edge Opera. She was soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the American Classical Orchestra and toured London with Wynton Marsalis, performing his Mass with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Recordings include: Stefan Weisman’s opera, Darkling, released by Albany Records, as well as the recording of the complete vocal works of Victor Herbert, released by New World Records.

A native of Olympia, Washington, Maeve was trained in piano, theater, and dance. Her exposure to both musical and dramatic theatre inspired a desire to master vocal technique, leading her to study classical singing and opera. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice from the New England Conservatory in Boston and master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

Season 2017/18 begins auspiciously for American bass Kenneth Kellogg: he appears as Monterone in Minnesota Opera’s new production of Rigoletto, and continues to Detroit to revive the role of Sam Bankhead The Summer King at Michigan Opera Theatre, a role he inaugurated at Pittsburg Opera during its world premiere. September sees him in the role of Ashby La Fanciulla del West for Maryland Opera in Washington DC, and Kenneth returns to Washington National Opera for another contemporary role: Father Palmer Silent Night. Throughout the season, Kenneth participates in events around the US introducing Glimmerglass Opera Festival’s 2019 world premiere Blue by Jeanine Tesori in which he takes the principal role.

Recent career highlights include his appearance as Mephistopheles Faustat Opera de Lausanne and at Opera de Oveido, Spain; he sang Young Emile Champion for Opera Parallele in its West Coast premiere, which won the artist exceptional reviews; as Sarastro Die Zauberflote Kenneth appeared at Virginia Opera and Opera Memphis; at Annapolis Opera, Don Alfonso Cosi fan tutte was a role debut.

Other roles include the title role, Leporello and Il Commendatore DonGiovanni, Ramfis and Il Re Aida, Colline La Boheme, Osmin Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Sparafucile Rigoletto, Fasolt Das Rheingold, and Gremin Eugene Onegin. With an instrument that boasts great ability in the more florid repertoire, the artist has also made role debuts in the title role Hercules, and as The King Ariodante.

Future engagements include the role of Crown Porgy & Bess in a major US house, and the principal male role Bluefor Glimmerglass Festival Opera in the summer of 2019.

Chinese tenor Yang Wang is currently a resident singer in China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater. Mr. Wang received both his bachelor and master degree from Central Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Dengying Zhao. During his study at school, Mr. Wang was granted various scholarships and was the first place in the 2nd Annual College of Arts National Art Song Competition in China.

As a young artist, Mr. Wang is quickly gaining recognition on stage since 2009. Previous credits include: Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, Duca in Rigoletto, Jupiter in Semele, Messaggero in Aida, Gastone in La Traviata, Abate in Andrea Chenier. His Ferrando in Così fan tutte was highly praised by Yandong Liu, the Vice Premier in China. Mr. Wang has sung several roles in original Chinese operas such as Juansheng in Regret for the Past, Dasuo in The White-haired Girl, Hsu Chih-mo in Phyllis Lin. He also appeared as the soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Bach Cantatas.

In 2015, Mr. Wang joined the ISING Suzhou International Young Artists Program in Suzhou, China. At the same time, he was invited to the Kempiski Young Artists Program with a full scholarship in Venice, Italy. In 2016, Mr.Wang was selected as one of the participants of Georg Solti Accademia of China's National Grand Theater.

In 2016, Mr. Wang won the second prize in the 1st Angelo Loforese International Vocal Competition in Italy. He was the finalist of the 34th Hans Gabor Belvedere International Vocal Competition in Holland and the 54th Tenor Francesco Viñas International Vocal Competition in Spain.

Mr. Wang has sung in concerts and operas in more than 30 venues and 20 conservatories in China. While Mr. Wang is emerging as a new opera star in China, his voice also has been heard in other parts the world having performed in Italy, Germany, England, Holland, Singapore, and the United States.

April 2018

SeungHyeon Baek, baritone

Nayoung Ban, soprano

Joseph Michael Brent, tenor

Yongxi Chen, tenor (China)

Sarah Costa, soprano

Nina Duan, mezzo-soprano (China)

Chunlai Shang, baritone (China)

February 2018

CongCong Wang, soprano

Maria Natale, soprano

Chantel Woodard, mezzo-soprano

Dashaui Chen, tenor

Hunter Enoch, baritone

Wei Wu, bass

December 2017

Kelly Glyptis, soprano

Melissa Mino, soprano

Evelyn Tsen, soprano

CongCong Wang, soprano (China)

Chelsea Laggan, mezzo-soprano

Yi Li, tenor (China)

Javier Arrey, baritone

Summer 2017

Simone Brown, soprano

Symone Harcum, soprano

Yulia Petrachuk, soprano

Antonio Chase, tenor

Jonathan Tetelman, tenor

Christopher Koelzer, pianist/coach

2015-2016

Emily Casey, soprano

Laura Basse, soprano

Merideth Marano, soprano

Nakia Verner, soprano

Catherine Wethington, soprano

Matthew Woorman, baritone

Yeji Yoon, soprano

April 2018

SeungHyeon Baek, baritone (USA)

Nayoung Ban, soprano (USA)

Joseph Michael Brent, tenor (USA)

Yongxi Chen, tenor (China)

Sarah Costa, soprano (USA)

Nina Duan, mezzo-soprano (China)

Chunlai Shang, baritone (China)

Baritone SeungHyeon Baek is quickly gaining recognition, throughout the American Opera circuit, as a young artist of considerable talents and versatility. He has specifically be applauded and recognized in recent performances, over the past few seasons, for his full and generous Baritone voice and well as for his histrionic abilities combined with his rich artistry.

Recently Mr.Baek made his Opera Tampa debut as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Opera North Debut as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and New York City Opera Debut as Billy Jackrabbit in La Fanciulla del West. He also performed as Tonio in Paglacci and Dandini in La Cenerentola with Opera Ithaca, Carnegie Hall Debut as a Baritone Soloist in G.Fauré’s Requiem with MidAmerica Productions in Isaac Stern Auditorium at the hall, Lincoln Center Concert Debut with InterSchool Orchestras of New York as a Baritone Soloist in Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center and performed as Dandini in La Cenerentola with New York City Opera for their Park Concert Series 2017.

Further recent engagements for SeungHyeon Baek include Alfio from Cavalleria Rusticana and Tonio from Paglacci with Martha Cardona Opera as their Double bill performance, Sharpless from Madama Butterfly with Hubbard Hall Opera Theater, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with Regina Opera, Soloist in A.L.Dvořák’s Te Deum with Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Concert Soloist in Gala Concert with Annapolis Opera and Baritone Soloist in T.Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ with Christian Broadcasting System of New York. During his Professional Studies at Mannes College he performed as the title role of Gianni Schicchi, Don Alvaro in Il Viaggio a Reims and Di Cosimo in the New York Premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino with Mannes Opera. Mr.Baek won NJ State Opera’s Alfredo Silipigni Competition,2017 and Career Bridges Competition,2015..

Over the past few seasons, SeungHyeon Baek has also participated as an Apprentice Artist in Sarasota Opera, performed Ford in Falstaff with Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Prelude to Performance Program, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble in New York City, Monterone and covered the title role in Rigoletto with Crested Butte Festival as a Marcello Giordani Young Artist and covered Schaunard in La bohème with Ash Lawn Opera. Mr.Baek also appeared as Valentin in Faust with the Manhattan School of Music Opera Repertory Ensemble, Pandolfe in Cendrillon and father in Hansel and Gretel in Manhattan School of Music.

Mr.Baek is going to perform as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Orchestra of St.Peter by the sea, Tonio in Paglacci with Opera Fairbanks in 2018 and Marcello in La bohème with Opera Ithaca in 2019. A native of South Korea, SeungHyeon Baek has Professional Studies Degree in Mannes College of Music, holds his Master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree at ChungAng University in Korea.

The young Soprano, Nayoung Ban has her Professional Studies from Mannes College of Music, holds her Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree at ChungAng University in Korea where she also has her Bachelor's Degree.

Ms. Ban also has performed as a Soprano Soloist in ‘Hear my prayer’ by F.Mendelssohn with Peniel Women’s Choir, T.Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ with Christian Broadcasting System of New York, Soprano Soloist in Gounod’s St.Cecilia Mass with GNC Orchestra and Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with New Hope Reformed Church of New York. Ms.Ban is going to perform as Musetta in La bohème with Opera Ithaca in 2019.

Tenor Joseph Michael Brent, a native New Yorker, began his operatic career as a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, Athens. Since graduating in the fall of 2014, Dr. Brent’s lyric tenor voice has continued to gain recognition around the United States and abroad. Most recently, he became the inaugural tenor resident artist of the Michigan Opera Theatre Studio, under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed tenor Richard Leech and opera impresario Dr. David Dichiera. He completed two seasons as resident artist, ending his tenure at the Michigan Opera Theatre in the spring of 2017.

Dr. Brent made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 singing Wagner, and Nereo in Boito’s Mefistofele with the Master Voices (formerly the Collegiate Chorale) and the American Symphony Orchestra. He has performed other such notable venues as The White House, David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall), Sala Pedrotti at the Rossini Conservatory, Teatro Titano (San Marino), Sant'Agnese in Piazza Navona, Stefaniensaal in Graz, the New York State Theatre, and Symphony Space New York.

In addition to his accomplished operatic career, Dr. Brent is also a sought-after concert soloist and recitalist. He most recently performed Ralph Vaughan William’s song cycle for tenor and piano quintet On Wenlock Edge, at Detroit’s Scarab Club. He has premiered works by composers Michael Fiacc, Gilda Lyons, and Mitchell Bach. Other performances of note include tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 (Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium), Mozart’s Requiem (Orchestral Nepal), Handel’s Messiah (Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity), Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio and Gounod Messe sollennelle (Rockland County Choral Society, NY), Schubert Mass in B-flat, D. 234 (with members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Assumption Grotto Church, Detroit), and the United States of American national anthem for the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Georgia in the fall of 2014 with a dissertation on selected vocal works of Giovanni Paolo Bottesini. Dr. Brent is a proud graduate of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and holds an undergraduate degree from the conservatory of music at Purchase College S.U.N.Y., where he studied double bass with principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic, Timothy Cobb. He was a student of Metropolitan Opera Baritone Frederick Burchinal, and is currently a student of Ron Raines.

Chinese tenor Yongxi Chen recently made his debut as Rodolfo in La bohème Qintai Theatre in Wuhan, China. He is currently a graduate student at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, where he was seen as Alfredo in the opera La Traviata in the second opera festival in China. He won the first prize at the 2015 "Terasa Belloc” International Vocal Competition in Italy, In 2017 he won the 51st Netherlands`s Hertogenbosch International Vocal Competition prize of the Province of North Brabant, second in the opera division.

Soprano Sarah Costa is a graduate of Cedarville University in Ohio with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance. A recipient of the Christy Lynn Waldron Award For Outstanding Vocalist, she was the winner of the prestigious concerto competition in her senior year. Most recently, she was a finalist in the Phoenix Opera’s Southwest Vocal Competition. Sarah’s operatic performances include appearances in Le Nozze di Figaro, The Magic Flute, “La Traviata” and “Carmen.” She has sung leading roles in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Les Contes d’Hoffmann and The Tender Land. She recently moved from Phoenix, Arizona where she studied with Maestro John Massaro and Mezzo Soprano Gail Dubinbaum and is currently studying with Soprano Fabiana Bravo. Sarah has also coached with Warren Jones, Bob Coward, Daniel Saunders, Valery Ryvkin, Maestro Leonardo Vordoni, Mezzo Soprano Kathryn Hartgrove, Directors Carroll Freeman and Marc Verzatt. Currently, she resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter.

Nina Duan, mezzo-soprano，graduated from China Conservatory of Music in 2015 with a master degree. She is a student of Professor Yi Song. She is a soloist in the Beijing Opera and Dance Theatre, and a member of Chinese Musicians' Association. She has won many national and international music awards. In 2015, she was awarded the 1st place of vocal music in the Pesaro International Music Competition, and won the best performance award, the City Award of Pesaro, was given the gold award of Beijing Golden Bell Award and a honorable mention of National Golden Bell Award. Also, in 2014, She is honored the 1st place of International Vocal Music, Opera Dimension in Rossini music festival. In 2018 She act opera “Thais”with maestro Placido Domingo in Beijing and went to Italy, Germany, France, Holland,Russia, Panama, Argentina, Kenya, Albania and etc, along with Beijing Federation of Literature and Art and Beijing Federation of Oversea Chinese.

Chinese Baritone Chunlai Shang has won numerous awards including; the Bronze Award in “Gold Bell Chorus Competition” in Ninth in China, Fourth place of China in “Voice of Campus”, Bronze Award in Sino-foreign Opera and Art Song Singing Competition in Seventh in Chinese Universities, First Prize and Second Place nationwide in The Pearl River Piano Fort Caesar of The Fourth National Vocal Competition, Second Prize and the first prize of the chorus in Nation University art performance, Third Prize of China in The forty-sixth Italy Bellini International Vocal Music Competition, Gold Award in The second youth vocal music competition in Jilin, Second Prize in Students group of national aesthetic education achievements, First Place of the Master Group in vocal competition of the Northeast Normal University, First Place of the Master Group in Changbai Mountain vocal competition. Mr. Shang has been seen as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Marcello in Puccini’s La bohème, and Count Amaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

February 2018 Artists

CongCong Wang, soprano (China)

Maria Natale, soprano (USA)

Chantel Woodard, mezzo-soprano (USA)

Dashaui Chen, tenor (China)

Hunter Enoch, baritone (USA)

Wei Wu, bass (China)

CongCong Wang, soprano

China

Ms. Congcong Wang's passion for music was nurtured from a young age by her involvement in dancing, creative composition, and piano. At the age of 12, Ms. Wang dedicated her studies to bel canto vocal performance. She received her Master of Music in vocal performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and postgraduate voice performance diploma at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Wuhan and Shanghai Music Conservatory of China. She has studied voice and opera with professor Kathryn Wright, Miah Im, Catherine Cook, Johnathon Pape, Tony Arnold, Joan Caplan, Amy Burton, and Elizabeth Hynes. Congcong's past performances include engagements with new opera NYC, Berklee performance center, San Jose Opera, West Bay Opera, Oberlin in Italy and Repertory Opera Company. Ms. Congcong has performed the principal roles of Iolanta, Manon, Mimi, Rosalinde, Nella and Sister Genovieffa, Christine, Pamina, Maria, as well as personal masters and postgraduate recital in the Boston Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory. Ms. Congcong was a finals winner in San Francisco district for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2017. She won the second prize in the third George Gershwin International Music Competition in New York City as well as got the Award of encouragement Final Winners of the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition in New York City. Congcong was a semifinalist for the Classical Singer Competition in the Emerging Professional division. Congcong had the great honor of auditioning for Placido Domingo at the semi final round of auditions for the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera. Ms. Congcong served as the Professional vocal judge for the Water Cube Cup Chinese songs contest for overseas Chinese, Culture of China at San Francisco. She had outstanding performance prize in the across the pacific-china arts festival in San Francisco. Ms. Congcong as a professional chorister in San Francisco symphony performed Berlitz’s Requiem Symphony, John Adam’s The Gospel According to the Other Mary, Carmina Burana, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Dia de los muertos community concerts, as well as Mahler’s Das klagende lied among others. She represents of international musician as soloist performed at celebration the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China hosted by the Chinese consulate in San Francisco as well as New Silicon Valley National Day Committee "China Night" large-scale theatrical performances "Century New Dream.” During her undergraduate years, Ms. Wang appeared as a soloist with China Conservatory's bel canto opera performance and soloist recitals. She has performed leading roles of Phantom of the Opera, Die Zauberflöte, West Side Story in China Conservatory of Music. At the same time, Ms. Congcong earned the top prizes in the competitions for singing, acting, dancing, piano as well as chorus at the anniversary festivals of National Conservatory. (sponsored by Sichuan conservatory of music, Wuhan Conservatory of Music and Xi’an Conservatory of Music). In 2011, Ms. Wang acquired the Chinese high school teaching certificate and as a private singing, sight singing and dictation tutor. Congcong also has skills in piano (advanced), dancing (latin, jazz, girls hip pop, national folk dance in advanced), golf (advanced), drawing, sight singing, composition, improv, songwriting, arranging, A/V recording.

Praised by The New York Times for her “plummy, penetrating voice,” soprano Maria Natale is quickly becoming a star in the opera world. Ms. Natale is the recipient of many awards and grants from some of the most prestigious vocal competitions nationwide including as a finalist in the Loren L. Zachary Vocal Competition; grant recipient from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition, and the Gerda Lissner Foundation; and the second prize winner of the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition.

Most recently, Ms. Natale made her Opera Maine début as Violetta in La traviata under conductor Stephen Lord where Opera News claimed, “her powerful soprano easily filled the house.” Other recent engagements include her Sarasota Opera début portraying the role of Liù in Turandot where she was hailed as having an “unequivocal Italian sound” (New Outpost).

As a concert soloist, Ms. Natale has performed with the New York City Master Chorale, Opera at Florham and Knoxville Opera. In 2015, Ms. Natale was selected by the Metropolitan Opera Guild to sing in their masterclass with Maestro Placido Domingo in Bruno Walter Auditorium.

Ms. Natale is a recent graduate from the Manhattan School of Music, where she received a professional studies certificate. Whilst attending school, Ms. Natale sang the role of Lady Macbeth in Ernest Bloch’s only opera Macbeth and was praised for her “high voltage vocal thrills” and “merciless stage presence” (Opera News).

Mezzo-soprano Chantel Woodard is a Detroit native with a voice that has been described as “chocolaty” and “rich”. Woodard’s operatic credits include: Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon and Goffredo in Rinaldo (cover)at the Trentino Music Festival, Baba in The Medium with the Wayne State University Opera Workshop, andRosina the Witch and Gertrude the Mother in Hansel and Gretel with the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra. Woodard performed for the annual commemoration of The Allen Grove Rosenwald School in Halifax, NC and served as soloist with the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra for Wesley Methodist Church’s presentation of The Last Seven Words of Christ by DuBois.

Woodard received Special Recognition from the Wayne State Concerto Competition and has performed in the Music Academy International’s Trentino Music Festival in Mezzano, Italy. She is a 2015 graduate of Virginia State University, where she completed her Bachelors of Music in Music Performance with a concentration in Voice under the tutelage of Dr. Karen Savage. Woodard currently studies voice with Dr. Frances Brockington at Wayne State University and will complete her Masters of Music degree in Voice Performance in May 2018.

Dashuai Chen, tenor

China

Chinese Tenor Dashuai Chen has quickly made his mark on stages in Europe and Asia. Chen’s 2017-2018 season includes Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore at Teatro Duse Bologna in Italy, two productions of Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni at Shanghai Oriental Art Center and National Centre For The Performing Arts in China, Giove in La Divisione del Mondo at Theater Kiel in Germany.

2016-2017 Season saw Mr. Chen performing the role of Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at both the Showa Theatre in Japan and the Daegu Opera House in Korea. Mr. Chen was also seen as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Bregenzer Festspiele in Austria.

On the competition circuit, Chen was a First Prize Winner at the China National Competition, Finalist in the Neue Stimmen International Comepetition where he was then invited to participate in the Neue Stimmen Masterclass, as well as winning Fourth Prize at the International Music Competition Harbin.

Mr. Chen was a student at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China.

Hunter Enoch, baritone

USA

Baritone Hunter Enoch, originally from Paris, Tennessee, joined the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist program at Washington National Opera in the fall of 2015. In the most recent season with WNO, he was heard as Count Almaviva in the Young Artist performance of Le nozze di Figaro, a Corporal in The Daughter of the Regiment, ADC in The Dictator’s Wife, covered Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking, and sang Sharpless in the Young Artist performance of Madame Butterfly. In 2015 Hunter made his WNO debut as Moralés in Carmen and was seen as James Miller in the world premiere of Better Gods. Future performances for Mr. Enoch include Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola for Queen City Opera, and his return to Washington National Opera in the fall of 2018.

In the summer of 2016, Hunter returned to The Glimmerglass Festival as a guest artist to sing Marcello in La bohème, and cover the role of John Proctor in The Crucible. Hunter made his festival debut as Sharpless in the Young Artist Performance of Madame Butterfly in 2014. He was a Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts during the 2014-2015 season where he appeared as Taddeo in L’italiana in Algeri, Marcello in La bohème, and Valentin in Faust.

A native of China, bass Wei Wu recently made his company debut with the Santa Fe Opera, as Kobun in the world premiere production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Upcoming engagements this season include a return to Washington National Opera, singing Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and he joins the West Virginia Symphony in concert for Verdi’s Requiem.

Last season, the bass’s performances included Timur in Turandot with Pittsburgh Opera and Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with NCPA Beijing, and he covered Gualtiero Walton in I Puritani for the Metropolitan Opera. On the concert stage, he joined the Kansas City Symphony and Choral Arts DC for the Mozart Requiem, and appeared with Washington Concert Opera as Phanuel in Hériodade.

Mr. Wu’s 2015-2016 season included engagements singing the Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila at the NCPA Beijing, Bonze in Madama Butterfly with North Carolina Opera in his company debut, Father Trulove in The Rake’s Progress with Pittsburgh Opera, and the Ghost of Nino in Washington Concert Opera’s production of Semimirade. In his final year as a member of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, his role assignments included covering the role of Zuniga in Carmen, and Wilcox in the World Premiere of Better Gods.

In the 2014-2015 season, he appeared as Colline in La bohème, The King in The Little Prince, Javelinot in Dialogues of the Carmelites, covers the Captain in Florencia en el Amazonas, and sings Mr. Shaw in the world premiere Penny. He made his debut with Washington Concert Opera in Guntram under the baton of Maestro Antony Walker, and joined the Glyndebourne Festival to cover Osmin in Die entführung aus dem Serail. Mr. Wu also made his Alice Tully Hall debut singing in concert with performers from China’s I Sing Festival, and debuted with NCPA Beijing as the Four Villains in Les contes d’Hoffman under director Francesca Zambello.

In his first season with Washington National Opera, Mr. Wu has made his debut in the world premiere production of The Lion, The Unicorn and Me as the Inn Keeper, Lizard, Ox and The Shepherd, and he also appeared in Breaking, part of the American Opera World Chinese Initiative. He has also appeared in The Magic Flute as the Second Armored Man at the Kennedy Center.

A native of China, the bass first came to the United States as a young artist covering the titular role in the world premiere of Poet Li Bai at Central City Opera in 2007. He also served as the lead cover of Li Bai throughout the production’s subsequent tour in Rome, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Denver and Los Angeles. While a student at University of Colorado, Wei Wu performed roles including: Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro (University of Colorado), Colline in La bohème(Colorado Springs Philharmonic), Ferrando in Il trovatore and Tom in Un ballo in maschera (China National Opera), and Don Alfonso (Opera Arkansas).

Mr. Wu is a regional finalist and district special award winner (Rocky Mountain Region) for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition in 2010 and 2012. He was also the winner of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition in 2011and 2012, and placed third in the 5th Taiwan Vocal Competition.

Mr. Wu received his B.M. in Vocal Performance from the People’s University of China, Beijing, and received his Performance Certificate and M.M. in Voice Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

November-December 2017 Artists

Kelly Glyptis, soprano

Melissa Mino, soprano

Evelyn Tsen, soprano

CongCong Wang, soprano

Chelsea Laggan, mezzo-soprano

Yi Li, tenor

Javier Arrey, baritone

Kelly Glyptis, soprano

December 2017

Kelly Glyptis, a lyric soprano based in the Washington, D.C. area, performs both opera and musical theater regularly. Her most recent engagements include Fiordiligi in Shreveport Opera’s Cosi fan tutte and performances with the Prizery Theater as The Witch in Into the Woods, Morticia in The Addams Family, Anita in West Side Story, and Nettie in Carousel. Miss Glyptis has also appeared in concert with OperaDelaware and the Baltimore Concert Opera and was a member of the Virginia Opera's Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist Program where she performed Little Red Riding Hood, Mimi in La bohéme, and Cupid in Orpheus in the Underworld. She made her professional debut as Berta in the Atlanta Opera’s Barbiere di Siviglia and performed the soprano soloist in Verdi's Requiem, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Beatrice in A View from the Bridge at Indiana University where she performed numerous other leading roles. Miss Glyptis has also been seen in productions with Cardinal Stage, Gray Ghost Theater, Pied Piper Theatre and Dominion Stage and has been nominated and won several outstanding actress awards as well as acclaim in Opera News for her performances as Donna Elvira and Orlofsky. She was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Indiana District and has won encouragement awards at the D.C. and N.C. Districts and the Chicago Region. She was a semi finalist for the Paris Opera Competition, Nicholas Loren and Mary Smith Singer of the Year Competitions, and is a winner of the Hellenic American Women's Council award. Miss Glyptis has trained with the Potomac Vocal Institute, Bel Canto in Tuscany, Operafestival di Roma, Canadian Operatic Arts Academy, and IU Opera Workshops. Upcoming engagements include performing Sir Elton John’s Trainer in Vikensport, or the Finch Opera and covering Magda Sorel in The Consul at Saratoga Opera, covering Alcina in Fargo-Moorhead Opera’s Alcina, and a concert with George Mason University at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

MELISSA MINO is a versatile and engaging performer seen and heard in opera, oratorio, operetta, and in concert. She recently made her Washington National Opera debut singing the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Her concert engagements have included Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with American Ballet Theatre at the Kennedy Center, the Brahms’ Requiemand Vivaldi’s Gloria at the National Cathedral, Haydn’s Creation with the Sylvan Chorale, and a return to the Kennedy Center to perform Rachmaninoff’s Vocaliseas an opening act for Lea Salonga, Darren Criss and others for Phillippines Typhoon relief and Rosalba in Washington National Opera's production of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas.

A frequent performer of Gilbert and Sullivan, Melissa has been heard as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Yum Yum in The Mikado, and Casilda in The Gondoliers, all with Baltimore’s Young Victorian Theatre Company. Other opera roles include Mozart’s Despina, Zerlina, Pamina, the Vixen in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, and Monica in Menotti’s The Medium. She continued her training as an apprentice artist at Sarasota Opera and at the CoOPERAtive Program. Melissa was recently awarded the John Douglas Memorial Award at Temple University for alumni achievement in opera, and was a national finalist and overall 3rd prize winner in the Classical Singer competition.

Increasingly in demand for recitals and concert work, Melissa has been a soloist with the McLean Orchestra, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony and Central Maryland Chorale. She is a repeat guest artist at numerous embassies in DC for events such as Italian National Day and the Maserati 100th anniversary. She also worked with Elan artists as the featured soprano for the opening of Hermès Paris in DC at City Center. She resides in Arlington, VA with her husband Colin and baby girl Hadley. She also maintains an active private studio. She received her M.M. degree from Temple University and her B.M. degree with a concentration in music education and French, summa cum laude, from Bucknell University.

Emerging soprano Evelyn Tsen from Malaysia has been praised for possessing a voice described as “velvety, warm, and silvery” (OperaWorks, Los Angeles).

Ms. Tsen was most recently seen as Papagena in Bel Cantanti's adaptation of Die Zauberflöte, and will perform Maguelonne in their upcoming production of Cendrillion by Pauline Viardot.

Highlights from 2017 include her debut with The Victorian Lyric Opera in their production of The Mikado. Her portrayal of Yum Yum was commended for being "thoroughly mesmerizing" (DC Metro Theater Arts). Additionally, she appeared as a regular soloist with the Georgetown Presbyterian Church Choir. Previously, she has sung with Odyssey Opera and Boston Opera Collaborative.

Ms. Tsen received her Graduate Performance Diploma at The Boston Conservatory, performing as Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Papagena in The Magic Flute and Grasshopper in The Cunning Little Vixen. She has also sung with prestigious opera programs, such as The Advanced Artist Operaworks Program and The International Performing Arts Institute in Germany.

CongCong Wang, soprano

December 2017

Ms. Congcong Wang's passion for music was nurtured from a young age by her involvement in dancing, creative composition, and piano. At the age of 12, Ms. Wang dedicated her studies to bel canto vocal performance. She received her Master of Music in vocal performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and postgraduate voice performance diploma at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as earned her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Wuhan and Shanghai Music Conservatory of China. She has studied voice and opera with professor Kathryn Wright, Miah Im, Catherine Cook, Johnathon Pape, Tony Arnold, Joan Caplan, Amy Burton, and Elizabeth Hynes. Congcong's past performances include engagements with new opera NYC, Berklee performance center, San Jose Opera, West Bay Opera, Oberlin in Italy and Repertory Opera Company. Ms. Congcong has performed the principal roles of Iolanta, Manon, Mimi, Rosalinde, Nella and Sister Genovieffa, Christine, Pamina, Maria, as well as personal masters and postgraduate recital in the Boston Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory. Ms. Congcong was a finals winner in San Francisco district for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2017. She won the second prize in the third George Gershwin International Music Competition in New York City as well as got the Award of encouragement Final Winners of the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition in New York City. Congcong was a semifinalist for the Classical Singer Competition in the Emerging Professional division. Congcong had the great honor of auditioning for Placido Domingo at the semi final round of auditions for the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera. Ms. Congcong served as the Professional vocal judge for the Water Cube Cup Chinese songs contest for overseas Chinese, Culture of China at San Francisco. She had outstanding performance prize in the across the pacific-china arts festival in San Francisco. Ms. Congcong as a professional chorister in San Francisco symphony performed Berlitz’s Requiem Symphony, John Adam’s The Gospel According to the Other Mary, Carmina Burana, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Dia de los muertos community concerts, as well as Mahler’s Das klagende lied among others. She represents of international musician as soloist performed at celebration the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China hosted by the Chinese consulate in San Francisco as well as New Silicon Valley National Day Committee "China Night" large-scale theatrical performances "Century New Dream.” During her undergraduate years, Ms. Wang appeared as a soloist with China Conservatory's bel canto opera performance and soloist recitals. She has performed leading roles of Phantom of the Opera, Die Zauberflöte, West Side Story in China Conservatory of Music. At the same time, Ms. Congcong earned the top prizes in the competitions for singing, acting, dancing, piano as well as chorus at the anniversary festivals of National Conservatory. (sponsored by Sichuan conservatory of music, Wuhan Conservatory of Music and Xi’an Conservatory of Music). In 2011, Ms. Wang acquired the Chinese high school teaching certificate and as a private singing, sight singing and dictation tutor. Congcong also has skills in piano (advanced), dancing (latin, jazz, girls hip pop, national folk dance in advanced), golf (advanced), drawing, sight singing, composition, improv, songwriting, arranging, A/V recording.

Chelsea Laggan is a professional singer performing in New York and the Tri-State area. She enjoys an active life on the concert and operatic stages, performing a variety of leading and featured roles. At Hofstra University these included Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Bradamante in Alcina, and Lady Blanche in Princess Ida. More recently she has been seen with Capitol Opera Harrisburg as Flora in La Traviata, and with the New York Opera Exchange in their productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and Die Fledermaus as Alisa and Prince Orlofsky, respectively, where her voice was described as “velvety and her singing fluid and nuanced." On the concert stage, Ms. Laggan performs frequently as a soloist and section leader with various choral groups singing repertoire including Alto solos in Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil and Matthew Koraus’ Ubi Caritas. She also enjoys bringing contemporary works to the public eye, most recently in her performances of the song cycle Love’s Progress, also by Koraus.

Yi Li, tenor

December 2017

Proving himself a formidable talent and a rising star to watch in the opera world, Tenor Yi Li is quickly gaining attention in the lyric tenor repertoire. This season, he sings in Huang Ruo’s Paradise Interrupted, an innovative contemporary opera that the Wall Street Journal hailed “a mesmerizing new work that is part opera, part dynamic art installation,’ which he will perform with the Lincoln Center Festival, Singapore International Festival of the Arts, and Lincoln Center 2nd Annual Global Exchange. He will also perform the role of Alfredo in La traviatawith Finger Lakes Opera; Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Nashville Opera; and joins the esteemed roster of The Metropolitan Opera for productions of Manon Lescaut, Roméo et Juliette, and Der fliegende Holländer.

Some highlights from Mr. Li’s recent seasons include the role of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanniwith Intermountain Opera Bozeman and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Malcom in Macbethwith Middlebury Opera Company; Cassio in Otelloat The National Center Performing Arts in Beijing; and concert engagements with Indianapolis Opera’sOpera’s Rising Stars Concertand a Chinese New Year Concert with Shenzen Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center. He also received a grant from Giulio Gari Foundation and performed at their annual gala.

Mr. Li recently graduated from Washington National Opera’s revered Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program where his assignments included Rodolfo in La bohème, and roles in Die Zauberflöte, and Dialogues des Carmélites. At San Francisco Opera’s world-renowned Merola Program, assignments included Belfiore in La finta giardiniera, Smith in Bizet’s La jolie fille de Perth, and Lionel in Martha.

Mr. Li’s training includes an Artist Diploma in Voice from University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he performed Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Ruggero in La rondine. During his time there, he also performed The Duke in Rigolettoat Cincinnati Opera, and Don José in Carmen at CCM Spoleto Festival. He also holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Sichuan Conservatory in China, where performances include Alfredo in La traviata, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Cavradossi in Tosca.

Finding success on the emerging artist competition circuit, Yi Li’s talent has been recognized by several elite foundations and organizations. Mr. Li was a Grand Final Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a finalist at Operalia: The World Opera Competition, Winner of the Sullivan Musical Foundation Award, China’s representative at the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, 3rd Prize at the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition, Finalist in the 49th International Singing Competition of Toulouse, and won the Grand Prize in Opera Columbus Irma M. Cooper Vocal Competition and CCM’s Corbett Scholarship Competition.

Heralded as one of the most sought after bel canto baritones of the new generation, Chilean baritone Javier Arrey’s 2016-2017 season saw a triumph in his debut with the Wiener Staatsoper as Marcello (La bohème) and joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera as well as his performance as Don Giovanni at the Estates Theater in Prague.

Following an acclaimed debut as Jago (Otello) at the Castleton Festival under Lorin Maazel, a performance Washington Post described as, “menaced and connived but [Arrey] did so subtly and with a voice so lovely to listen to that his scheming seemed all the more threatening.” Javier returned there the following summer in the title role of Don Giovanni. Following success as Jago, Arrey is beginning to incorporate more Verdi into his already extensive repertoire.

Other highlights from recent seasons include Melot (Tristan und Isolde), Marcello (La bohème), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Malatesta (Don Pasquale) and Lescaut in (Manon Lescaut) at Washington National Opera; Il Marito (Amelia al Ballo) at Opera de Monte-Carlo; Ben (The Telephone) and Il Marito (Amelia al Ballo) at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia; Silvio I Pagliacci at The National Centre for the Performing Arts-Mumbai under Antonello Allemandi; Alphonse (La favorite) with Washington Concert Opera under Maestro Antony Walker; and Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and Giorgio (Il Postino) at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago. On CD, he can be heard as Lescaut on the recording of Manon Lescaut for Decca Classics under the baton of Plácido Domingo where the cast included Andrea Bocelli and Ana Maria Martinez.

In addition to his work on the opera stage Arrey has proved to be a world-class interpreter of the concert repertoire most recently performing Carmina Burana in Europe in the Netherlands and also with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra under Christopher Warren-Green. His repertoire includes Fauré’s Requiem, Dvorák’s Biblical Songs, Bach's St. John’s Passion, Bach's Weihnachtsoratorium, Schumann's Dichterliebe, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem and Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, among others.

Javier Arrey was a finalist at the 2009 Cardiff Singer of the World competition (Song prize), winner of the CulturArte Prize at the 2011 Operalia Competition in Moscow, and also a graduate of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist program.

Upcoming engagements include among others, his Metropolitan Opera debut as Shaunard (La bohème) in the classic Franco Zeffarelli production and returns to Washington Concert Opera as Valdeburgo in Donizetti’s La Straniera under Maestro Antony Walker.

Simone Brown is a Maryland native and a recent graduate of Peabody with a Master of Music under the tutelage of Denyce Graves. She graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana. At Xavier, Simone was seen as Laeticia in The Old Maid and the Thief and participated in both Concert and University Choirs as a soloist and section leader. In her time at Peabody, Simone participated in the Opera Outreach production of Papageno! singing the role of Pamina. She also had the opportunity to participate in the Opera Etudes premiere of Meeting at the Fence singing the role of Yolanda. In her second year at Peabody Simone participated in the main stage production of Le Nozze di Figaro singing the role of Barbarina. Outside of Peabody Simone had the opportunity to sing Monica with Bel Cantanti Opera company's production of The Medium. Recently Simone performed the role of Frasquita in a concert version of Carmen with Opus Concert Theater.

Symone Harcum, soprano

Summer 2017

Symone Harcum, a soprano studying in the studio of Denyce Graves, is in her second year of pursuing her Master's in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at Peabody Conservatory. A native of Baltimore, she received her Bachelor's of Music Education from Norfolk State University. She served in the chorus of the Norfolk State Concert Choir and the 105 Voices of History National HBCU Choir. Symone has performed as a featured soloist in Norfolk State's "Voices" concert series with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and at the ‪Grand Ole Opry and Kennedy Center with The 105 Voices Choir. After receiving her undergraduate degree in 2012, Symone performed regularly with the Virginia Opera as a chorister and was the Choral Director at Ruffler Academy Middle School of Norfolk Public Schools until 2016. During her time in Virginia she performed roles with Tidewater Opera including La Ciesca in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and covered 2nd Lady in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Virginia Opera. Ms. Harcum made her Peabody Opera debut in the role of Gertrude, the mother, in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel in Fall 2016 and covered the role of Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro in Spring 2017.

Antonio Chase, tenor

December 2017Summer 2017

Antonio Chase, tenor a native of Baltimore, MD and graduate of Morgan State University. While a student in the Morgan State University Choir Mr. Chase has been featured as tenor soloist in several large oratorio works which include Bach’s Magnificat; Duruflé Requiem; Handel’s Messiah; Saint Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio; and the Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift up Mine Eyes in which he is also the featured soloist in the Maryland Public Television recording featuring the Morgan State University Choir. Mr. Chase has been an active member of the Morgan State University Opera Workshop and has appeared as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, a participant in the Baltimore Summer Opera Workshop, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony and Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestras under the baton of Maestro Julien Benichou. Antonio’s recent performances include the role of Obadiah in the world premiere of the opera Highway to Canaan by Dr. J LanYe in Cleveland, OH. He has placed in several vocal competitions as a student and emerging artist, namely a finalist in the Harlem Opera Theatre Vocal Competition. Antonio has toured South America with the Harlem Opera Theater in concert performances of African American music and composers. Mr. Chase is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America INC. and The AKOBEN Foundation INC. along with performing, he is a music teacher in Baltimore city public schools. He recognizes the growth and strength of his talent can be contributed to the foundation led at the Baltimore School for the Arts, also working with coaches and teachers such as Lauretta Young, Robert Cantrell, Paul Spence Adkins Vincent Dion Stringer and Ridley Chauvin.

Yulia Petrachuk, soprano

Summer 2017

Born in Russia, Ms. Petrachuk studied at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and is a graduate of Bern Opera Studio in Bern, Switzerland.

Her debut as a professional opera singer was with the State Theater Bern, Switzerland in 2010. She has also performed with Theater Biel (Switzerland), Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Opera Ischia (Italy), Dicapo Opera Theater NYC, Great Moscow Hall, Vocal Productions NYC and Opera Camerata. Some of her main roles performed include Fiordiligi, Mimi, Violetta, Nedda, Iolanta, Tatiana, Euridice, Flaminio, Lauretta, Adina, Marguerite.

In 2014, she made her debut at the Carnegie Hall with Steven Crawford, pianist and assistant conductor of Metropolitan Opera. In 2012, Ms. Petrachuk received a grant by The Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridge and in 2015 she was one of the Finalists in the Vocal Arts DC Discovery Series Competition in Washington DC. In 2015, she won the Montpelier Art Center’s Classical Recital Series Competition. In November 2015, Ms. Petrachuk successfully performed the World Premiere of “Yulia” (a song cycle for soprano and strings dedicated to her by composer E. Dubois) at the Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center in New York City, in collaboration with the renowned Italian pianist Carlo Pari. In December 2016, she had a recital at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall with American pianist Michael Fennelly and performed a world premier of a song cycle “Winter Wood” by Emmanuel Dubois for soprano and harp.

In February 2017, she had her recital in Fort Myers Auditorium in Florida with the renowned American pianist David Worthington. In April 2017, Ms. Petrachuk performed the soprano solo in the Cantata Emmanuel by Paul Leavitt with the Chorale and Orchestra of the FMMC at the Church of the Reformation in Washington DC. In June 2017, she performed the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni with the Vienna Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. In October 2017, she will sing the role of Contessa in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with the Opera Camerata in Washington DC.

Her future engagements include various operatic and concert series performances in Washington DC, Florida, New York, Russia, France, Austria and Italy.

Ms. Petrachuk is represented in the US by Lyrica Artists Management and in Europe by IMK.

Praised by Opera News for his “galvanizing presence,” tenor Jonathan Tetelman was a finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council in the New York District in 2017.

This season, he joined the Milan Festival Orchestra in Lake Como, Italy performing Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Jonathan also made his Chinese debut performing the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème at the Fujian Grand Theater. He was a featured soloist with The Orchestra Now for Elgar’s masterpiece The Dream of Gerontius, the New England Symphonic Ensemble for Mozart's Coronation Mass in Carnegie Hall, The St. George's Choral Society, performing Dvorak's Stabat Mater and the Greenwich Choral Society, performing Puccini's Messa di Gloria and Bizet's Te Deum. Previously, he sang staged concert performances of La Traviata, La Boheme, Werther, and Les contes d'Hoffmann with Gulfshore Opera.

Jonathan's upcoming operatic engagements include covering the role of Flavio for the Metropolitan Opera's double run of Bellini's Norma. He will then be seen with the New Orleans Opera in January for their 75th Anniversary season performing Il Tabasco as Captain Marco. Then, he will be performing next summer with The Berkshire Opera Festival as il duca di Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto.

Jonathan was awarded First Prize in the New York Lyric Opera Competition as well as the Audience Favorite Winner in the Mildred Miller Competition in 2016.

A native of Sunnyvale, California, pianist/coach Christopher Koelzer begins his first season in Washington National Opera's (WNO) Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program in the fall of 2017. In WNO's 2017-2018 season, he is Assistant Conductor for The Barber of Seville. Koelzer attended Aspen Music Festival and School from 2011 to 2012, returning as Vocal Fellow in 2014. He was awarded Outstanding Collaborative Pianist Award and Grand Prize Art Song in the Metropolitan International Music Festival Competition in New York in 2016. He has performed staged readings of new musicals in New York City (Shards, Boston|Nebraska), as well as world premieres of several new operas in Washington D.C. and South Carolina. He began working professionally as an opera pianist at age 13 with Mission City Opera and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of San Jose. He studied Piano Performance with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox at Brigham Young University, and was involved as a pianist, harpsichordist, and coach for six fully staged operas. He holds a master's degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has coached and performed with UMD's Maryland Opera Studio since 2013. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Maryland, studying with Professor Rita Sloan.

2015-2016

Emily Casey, soprano

Laura Basse, soprano

Merideth Marano, soprano

Nakia Verner, soprano

Catherine Wethington, soprano

Matthew Woorman, baritone

Yeji Yoon, soprano

Laura Basse, soprano

2015-2016

From a sold out debut at Carnegie Hall to leading roles in the Washington DC area--emerging artist Laura Basse consistently delights. Recent accolades include The Washington Post, which acclaimed her voice as “fresh and agile” while “powerfully” portraying Micaëla in Carmen; and having “Lit up the stage” as a “passionate” Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. BWW Opera World heralded her Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro with a resounding validation of her talent and artistry: “Basse displayed an absolutely ethereal voice, filled with beautiful grace and power, in stark contrast to her delicate, fragile noblewoman character.”

Laura’s performing career has taken her to cities all over the world, including: Rome, Verona, Paris, London, Vienna, Moscow, Prague, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and more. Since relocating to Washington DC, Laura has performed with Maryland Lyric Opera, Bel Cantanti Opera, HUB Opera Ensemble, and Repertory Opera Theater of Washington. Additional operatic performance repertoire includes: Mimì (La bohème); Susannah (Susannah); Nedda (Pagliacci), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Princess Ninetta (The Love for Three Oranges), and Helen in Ned Rorem's We are Three Sisters, Who are not Sisters. She has also performed as the featured Soprano Soloist in the following works: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the Brahms Requiem, the Poulenc Gloria, Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock, as well as his Mass in G Major.

She is beyond thrilled and grateful to be joining the Maryland Lyric Opera Emerging Artist Program, where focus on the singer’s liberty of expression is of utmost importance.

Emily Casey, soprano

2015-2016

American soprano Emily Casey has been praised for the clarity, range and flexibility of her voice as well as her skillful dramatic and acting abilities. She has been noted for her talent in embodying both dramatic and comic characters on the operatic stage and musical theater stage alike.

Hailed as a “standout” and praised for her “musical lyricism” in her most recent performance as Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Ms. Casey has performed many leading roles with companies within the United States. Highlights include Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Susannah (Susannah), Hannah Glawari (The Merry Widow), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) and La Voix in Poulenc's vocally and dramatically demanding La Voix Humaine.

She has been the recipient of several prestigious awards including first place in the Xi’an Silk Road International Music Festival, second place in the Partner's for the Arts Vocal Competition, and semi-finalist in the Harold Haugh Light Opera Vocal Competition.

Most recently, Ms. Casey made her debut in Italy singing with Aprile Millo’s Operavision Academy in Milan and Busseto. She has had the opportunity to sing in master classes for many of the great artists of the day, including Renée Fleming, Aprile Millo, Maestro Richard Bonynge, and Sherrill Milnes.

Merideth Marano of Asheville, North Carolina is a professional soprano as well as a military wife, married to a Captain in the Unites States Army. In the past six years she has lived and performed in Germany, Washington DC, Georgia and most recently, Washington State. Meridethhas embraced the challenges that constant relocation brings to her career and enjoys getting to know opera lovers across the globe.

Meridethspent her time in Germany studying with Elizabeth Whitehouse, a renowned Australian soprano well known to the German and Australian stages. She competed nationally and was a winner in an international competition, specially chosen to tour with baritone Jacob Pustina, the founder and cheif patron of the competition. After relocating to Washington DC she gained acclaim as a young artist performing leading roles with Maryland Lyric Opera, Bel Cantanti Opera, Victorian Lyric Opera Company and Singers’ Theatre of Washington. Critical acclaim includes statements from the Washington Post calling Merideth “certainly the standout”, from Washington Life reporting: “she sang with a radiance that floated with ease into the performance space”, from Washington City Paper:“Marano has dramatic vocal weight with a high register and a gift for coloratura” and from DC Metro Arts: “she was a constant thrill throughout the evening, sparkling in her high notes and bringing a special poignancy and soulfulness to her low notes”.

During a brief time spent in Georgia Merideth was chosen for the prestigious honor of paid festival artist for the Savannah Voice Festival, and received one on one coaching with famed Baritone Sherrill Milnes as well as many other notable personalities in the opera world. She was a finalist in the Pro-Mozart Society Competition and performed in many concerts to great success in the Savannah area. Meridethis currently getting to know the local opera scene in Tacoma, Washington, and has already made a great many fans with solo work in the area. In the last year she has also begun to incorperate her husband into her concert work, performing duets that surprise audiences by showcasing his beautiful and dramatic tenor voice.

Merideth’s well-rounded career spans from oratorio and concert performances to leading roles in opera. Recent roles include Donna Anna (Mozart), Juliette (Gounod), Sylva (Kalman), Nedda (Leoncavallo), Roselinde (Strauss) and Echo (Strauss). She was the featured soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria, and has performed in several countries including Germany, Czech Republic, Jordan, the United States and Italy.

Merideth has successfully competed both nationally and internationally. She was chosen for a prestigious award in the Jakub Pustina International Vocal Competition in the Czech Republic and placed third in the New York Lyric Opera Theatre’s National Competition as well as being chosen for a finalist with several other notable competitions.

Merideth has pursued her opera studies in the United States, Italy, Germany and Austria. Coaching and masterclass experience includes work with Kristen Okerlund (of the Vienna State Opera), Montserrat Caballe (Zaragoza, Spain), Barbara Bonney (Salzburg, Austria), Sherrill Milnes (Savannah, Georgia) and long term study with Elizabeth Whitehouse in Nuremburg, Germany, Fabiana Bravo in Washington DC, Ann Jones in Tennessee and Rebecca Turner in South Carolina. She holds a Master of Music (vocal performance).

South Carolina native Nakia Verner is praised for her sumptuous sound and spontaneous passion in recital performances and operatic portrayals which have delighted listeners from San Francisco to Rome. Here notable roles include Madama Butterfly , the First Lady in Die Zaüberflote, , Magda in La Rondine; and the title role of Suor Angelica. Verner has also sung the role of Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte and the title role in Ariadne Auf Naxos.

Nakia has degrees from Winthrop University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and the Peabody Conservatory. Nakia graduated from The Catholic University of America with a D.M.A. in October 2014.Nakia has performed both the soprano and alto solo in the Verdi Requiem , Brahms Requiem, and the alto soloist Bach Magnificat. She performed the role of the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in La Voix Humaine , Dottie in Finian’s Rainbow, and Motherin Hansel and Gretel. She is the winner of the George Woodhead prize for Voice, 1st place winner of both 2010 Washington Summer Opera Theatre Scholarship Competition and the 2012 CUA Concerto Competition . Ms. Verner made her debut with Maryland Lyric Opera as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana in July 2014. In March 2016 and June 2017, Ms. Verner performed the Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the Maryland Lyric Opera and the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. Nakia played the role of Mother in Maryland Lyric Opera’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors in December 2016. Ms. Verner made her debut in the title role in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos in Berlin, Germany in August of 2017.

Catherine Wethington, coloratura soprano, has been praised for her intelligent artistry, delicate pianissimos, and expansive range. Comfortable in comedic and dramatic roles she has performed many leading roles including Gilda, in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Zerlina, in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Eurydice, in Offenbach’s Orpheé aux enfers, Suor Genovieffa, in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Olympia, in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and Monica, in Menotti’s The Medium.

In addition, Ms. Wethington is no stranger to the concert stage. She has performed Strauss’ Brentano Lieder and Milhaud’s Quatre Chansons de Ronsard. She has given lecture recitals, chamber recitals, and has premiered many new works for voice and piano. In 2015, she debuted on the Kennedy Center Concert Stage as a soprano soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and reprised the solos with the Choral Arts Society of Washington in May of that year. In July, 2017 Ms. Wethington was a soloist in a televised concert celebrating Mr. Carlo Bergonzi, in his home town Busseto, Italy and was featured in concert under the baton of Maestro Richard Bonynge. Ms. Wethington completed her Doctorate in voice performance in September, 2015 from the Catholic University of America where she studied with Ms. Sharon Christman. She received her BM in voice performance from the University of Michigan. Currently Ms. Wethington works with Dr. Maria Vetere.

Matthew Woorman, baritone

2015-2016

Matthew Woorman, Baritone has taken to the stage as Count Capulet in Romeo et Juliette with Maryland Lyric Opera, Antonio and Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro with Carrol Summer Opera, and as Allard Flagg in the world premiere of Alice Flagg at the Page to Stage Festival at the Kennedy Center. Woorman is a recent graduate of Catholic University where he performed several roles including Leporello in Don Giovanni, Count Capulet in Romeo et Juliette, The Father “Peter” in Hansel and Gretel, Elder McLean in Susannah, and Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow. Woorman was recently featured singing Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the Montgomery Philharmonic. At Castleton Festival, Woorman covered the role of Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni under the tutelage of James Morris for the main stage production. As a member of the Castleton Artist Training Seminar(C.A.T.S.), Woorman was featured in several opera scenes at the CATS Scene Spectacular as Don Pasquale in Don Pasquale, Bartlo in Le nozze di Figaro, Giulio Cesare in Giulio Cesare, and Barone in La Traviata. Woorman performed the role of Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro in three performances at different locations in Italy with Amalfi Coast Summer Music Festival including one performance at the Naples Conservatory of Music. Woorman performed the role of Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro under the tutelage François Loup of Belcantanti Opera Summer Festival where he also covered Dandini in La Cenerentola. Woorman earned his BM from Catholic University of America and an AA in Music from Montgomery College, Rockville.

Yeji Yoon, Lyric Coloratura Soprano, is currently enrolled in the Professional Studies Program at Manhattan school of Music and is also a member of Emerging Artists Program at Maryland Lyric Opera. Enjoying a career that embraces opera, chamber music, arts songs, Ms. Yoon made her debut with Maryland Lyric Opera Company in the role of Juliette in Romeo et Juliette. She has also performed the role of Contessa in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Juliette in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Ms. Yoon has performed as a soloist at many local venues including the Friday Morning Music Club, Wiscasset Salon series, the Italian Embassy, the Bulgarian Embassy and the Argentine Embassy. She has also appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Vladivostok Symphony Orchestra and Keyef National Chamber Orchestra. She has performed as a soloist with numerous choirs as well. She has sang Mozart’s Coronation Mass K.317, Gounod’s Messe Solenne, and Mozart’s Missa brevis.

Ms. Yoon graduated from Sunhwa Art Middle School and High School. And she received BA and MM degrees from Seoul National University. Furthermore, she studied at A.I.D.M. Academy in Rome, Italy and attended master classes by the renowned Maestra Maria Chiara in Oderzo, Italy. Additionally, she completed a DMA at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

She currently resides in DC and New York City while pursuing a professional career.